He had tried rehab so many times. He always fell out around the second week. The first week wasn't terrible, but the second week was hell. He couldn't think straight, and despite detox ending, he felt anxious. People were everywhere. He had no privacy, and nothing was private. Rehab was just like that, he figured. He had always quit, and figured the only thing he couldn't quit was using drugs. He figured a lot of things. None of them were entirely true, and he knew that much, but choosing to believe he couldn't change was easier than actually making a meaningful change in any way shape or form. Really, his goal was to sleep his life away doing drugs, and he was doing a good job of that he thought. Yet, after every hit, something changed inside him, literally. His brain stopped taking dopamine the same way. It needed more, and he couldn't provide it. It only took three separate hospital visits for him to finally consider rehab again, despite his past failings. He refused staunchly at first, citing that while finding treatment in California was easy, finding treatment that he wanted was probably impossible. His family had all but abandoned him years ago, so he knew that even if he did find rehab in California that looked appealing, they certainly wouldn't help. So cost was a factor here, too. There were a lot of factors – too many, if you asked him. He wanted to quit again. He wanted to quit again so desperately. It was easy, like falling into a pool. Normalcy awaits, and while the water may shock at first, it turns warm and comforting quickly. However, where he was right now was far from comforting. Tubes were coming out of his throat, and needles pierced his skin. The bed was pulled taut and the sheets felt like barbed wire. This is what I want to quit, he joked to himself. He chuckled under what breath he could muster, but the jest didn't leave his mind. Is this what I want to quit? Can I quit this? The humor made way for heavy thoughts. I'll fail. I know it. But can I do this again? Death was probably right around the corner for him, so he figured it was either win or lose, no middle ground. He asked his doctor tentatively how he could expect any privacy in rehab. He explained that rehab isn't always what he had experienced, and that to find drug rehabs in California that fit his needs, all he had to do was look. While he appreciated the help, he asked for some privacy. He revelled in the quiet for a moment, tentative and nervous for the future. He was happy, though, that this might not be the last time he got some privacy. For the first time, it seemed like he wasn't going to quit.
Over the course of six seasons and four years, addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky and his team worked to help celebrities overcome their addictions to drugs and alcohol on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Working out of Pasadena Recovery Center, one of the celebrity rehab facilities in California, Pinsky aided multiple celebrities and famous people overcome a variety of addictions, from drugs and alcohol to sex and food. Pinsky began this quest after being disturbed by the amount of tabloids focused on celebrities and their addictions. He was troubled by the fact that many of the pieces painted addiction as a failure in judgment or morals, rather than an actual condition. To change this perspective, Pinsky, who was at this time already a successful media personality, pitched his reality show idea to VH1, who accepted based on the success of shows like Intervention. Casting initially proved difficult, but eventually many well known personalities were featured on the show, such as Gary Busey, Rodney King, and Dennis Rodman. While conflict naturally arose, the show maintained strict guidelines for the patients, and aside from constant monitoring, the facility functioned like a normal rehab. Patients had treatment, therapy, projects, and activities. Many of the treatments were very successful, which led to two spinoff shows: Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew and Sober House. Both were moderately successful, and detailed different types of struggles addicts may face. Sober house featured many celebrities featured on earlier seasons of Celebrity Rehab, and featured their lives after treatment. While the show garnered much acclaim in its run due to its more refined and serious take on addiction and recovery, it accrued an equal amount of criticism. Many felt, just like similar shows such as Intervention, that the confrontational and dramatic nature of the show might push some away from recovery or help. Many also felt that the show may be dramatized for publicity and ratings, which directly and disturbingly contradicts the needs of the patient. Many questioned whether situations in the show were doctored in order to increase dramatics rather than actually help patients, which constitutes borderline criminal negligence on the part of those producing the show. Just like Intervention before it, many claimed Celebrity Rehab exploited individuals at their respective rock bottoms in order to profit. Pinsky has disputed and dismissed these claims repeatedly, despite the show ending years ago. The show ended due to Pinsky lacking a desire to continue. Many blamed him and his show when those who attended later died due to drug overdose. Pinsky claims he holds no responsibility, but is tired of being harassed by those who claim he is guilty in some regard. While it may have garnered controversy in its time, Celebrity Rehab introduced and de-stigmatized rehab, addiction, and recovery to a younger generation, and showed many how important it is to get help. Everybody says it's clear when you've hit rock bottom. That the world just seems stop and you have some epiphany that life must change from here on out. That's not always the case. It had taken James about three months to realize that's where he was. He had never once thought about getting help with addiction. His life was his, and his mistakes were his own, even if he didn't view them as mistakes. His drinking, to him, was personal. Rehab was essentially a non-option, as it was entirely impersonal. But three months ago, rehab wasn't even a thought in his mind. The only thought in his mind was to keep drinking. He would go to bars, to friends' houses, but no matter where he went he always ended up getting kicked out. Month two was drinking alone. Every night, after work. He would go in the next day with a migraine that would've killed a lesser man, but he rarely paid them much mind. He was occupied with the thought of what waited for him at home. It was a mixture of feelings. It felt like the anticipation of Christmas without any of the excitement. Something waited for him, but it lacked any wrapping paper or bows, and brought him none of the long term happiness the bike he had gotten for his ninth Christmas did. But he still went home and he still kept drinking. The third month had a strong start when James was let go. The supervisor said he smelled like beer. That his work performance had plummeted, that he had received so many complaints. So he drank and drank, and month three ended abruptly with a head-on collision with a parked car. The doctor sounded just like his boss. He smelled like alcohol, he almost died, lucky to be alive, what have you. The doctor went on about addiction centers in California, and how help was available locally, but it fell on almost entirely deaf ears. This crash had been coming, literally and figuratively. Giving up was easier than rehab. He was sure of it. The doctor left the room with a heavy sigh, and the nurse pushed a small computer over towards him. The white light hummed from the screen, and the cursor in the search engine blinked back at him. I probably couldn't afford it, he thought. “D”. It takes too much time. “Drug addiction” It's not like I'd lose my job, I guess. “Drug addiction help” It's probably too far away, though. “Drug addiction help in CA.” What he had typed stared back at him. The “enter” key beckoned him. With a strain, he reached. Click. He didn't understand why everyone loved California so much. It was hot. It was humid. The people were much more rude than what he was used to in Minnesota. No one said hello, but they were quick to harass you for reasons you might never understand. Everyone loved to party and drink in California. Rehabs were common though, so that wasn't too bad he thought. He wasn't judgmental or anything, he just didn't really like to partake in the party culture as much anymore. He was 23, but he felt and behaved much older than he actually was. He had lived his entire life in Minnesota, and now he was in hot, humid California, trying to fit into a world he didn't understand. Grad school at CalTech had brought him here, but the culture pushed him away. The college was competitive, cutthroat, and disingenuous. Maybe that was why so many of his peers drank or did drugs. The appeal there made sense, but little else did. He tried to fit in, though, despite his hesitations. A girl from his engineering class had invited him to what she referred to as a “low-key” party, and he had went. It was awful. The whole place smelled like dingy mold, and he couldn't see through all the smoke. He only spoke to her for a few moments before she became vacant and distracted, and she hadn't talked to him in class since. He still didn't have room to judge, though. People do different and strange things to relieve stress, and he knew some of those kids had it harder than him. He was full ride, and he was lucky. Most weren't. He just wasted his time and stress on video games, a pretty harmless distraction, and a lot cheaper than a case of beer each week. He had actually done the math. 24 bottles cost 25.99. If he bought one case every two weeks, he'd be spending a little over 50$ each month just to drink. Not to mention if he had gone to the bar. They upcharged there. Hit was 3-4$ per bottle at most of these college-town bars, so he averaged it at 3.50. If he went out just once a week and had three beers, it'd be 10$ a week, 40$ a month as a minimum. He just couldn't see the reason in it. But he wasn't there to judge. His dad had drank a beer every night, and nothing had ever come of it. While some of these kids ended up getting DUI's or tossed in prison a little too early, a little stress relief was harmless. He doubted he would ever get invited back to a party, though, so he wasn't sure it mattered. What was important was not to judge others for a little healthy relaxation just because he didn't' participate. He still wasn't a fan of the heat, though. We ask a lot of questions about states. What state is the best to retire in? What state is the best to live in? Vacation in? Drive through? Eat in? While these questions may interest some, they're not really important questions that will have a drastic impact on one's life. However, one question rarely asked is that important. What state is the best to seek rehab in? The answer is simple: the best state to recover in is California. Drug abuse help is can be tough to find and pursue, yet addiction treatment in California is both affordable and achievable. California is the best state to recover in because of its environment and its attitude towards drug abuse and addiction. While southern California's culture may encourage substance abuse, it is equally understandable when it comes to addiction treatment. In CA, the culture is laid back, and addiction or recovery isn't viewed as failure, but rather a progression of the self. This is due in part to the amount of celebrities who attend rehab, and the amount of facilities in California. California's environment also aids in recovery. No matter where you attend rehab in California, odds are you'll be near the ocean. Swimming, exercise, and simply alone time in or near the water are great things to do in recovery. The beauty and tranquility of the ocean helps achieve a similar tranquility in the mind. The change of scenery and pace here is astounding, and will help you focus on moving beyond your addiction and little else. In northern California, the mountainous, cool environment can help those who want to be isolated during recovery. The scenery is majestic and there are few bothers, making the difficult task of rehab slightly easier. California is also on the cutting edge of rehab. Due to the sheer amount of facilities in CA, there is a great deal of healthy competition, which spurs innovation and creative treatments, making the task of finding your ideal treatment plan easy. Individual rehab treatment is just as simple to find as holistic therapy. The advantages of rehab in California are innumerable, and each has a role in inspiring and aiding in your recovery. What could be more serene than a late-night beach walk, or water physical therapy? California is practically designed to help people focus on themselves and their recovery, and odds are it does it better than any other state. A lot of things make California special, but its attributes lend themselves incredibly well to the pursuit of self discovery and recovery. The federal inspector was coming today, and Jerry was sure this was going to be it for him. He didn't believe he worked very hard, and he doubted he could keep it together for an interview. He had barely gotten this job as it was. He had severe anxiety, and the thought of being interviewed had always terrified him. In fact, the interview for this job was the first he hadn't left early out of sheer terror. He knew he had anxiety, but feared therapy just as much. He always embraced his cowardice, and learned to live around it. However, when someone was coming to question exactly what he did and how he did it, it was hard to embrace the fear. He had been jittery all day. He really couldn't afford to lose his job. He worked at a California drug rehab center - one of the best in the state - changing rooms. He didn't get paid much, but the job had almost everything he wanted. Little human interaction, quiet, little supervision. But it still wasn't the best job. He had seen things he wished he hadn't. Rooms covered in bodily fluid, people screaming or crying, and most troubling, rooms empty after a single night. They were often cleaner than he had left them too, like someone was trying to hide any evidence they had ever been there. He didn't like to think about it anymore than that. Conveniently, his radio crackled into life. His boss was telling him it was time for his interview, and not to worry. That was easier said than done. The room was cold, and she was beautiful. Her name was Sarah, and she was undeniably intimidating. He wasn't a guy who oggled or objectified women, but it didn't ease his anxiety any more. He was sweating far more than what was acceptable. She asked if he was ready to begin, but he barely heard her over his own thoughts. She asked him what he liked about working there, and he nervously spat out some answer about food. He couldn't believe himself. She asked "What could this facility be doing better to help patients?" "Nothing. I don't know." He saw where this was going, but he couldn't stop the words already leaving his mouth. "It's just so sad, you know?" "What do you mean?" she said, curiously. He couldn't remember what happened next. He spat out some thoughts that were jumbled and complex about the rooms, the patients, and how he didn't know if he could handle it. What a terrible answer, he thought, I blew it. She thanked him for his time, and as he was walking out, he looked over her shoulder towards her notepad. "Employee therapy" she had written, and Jerry didn't know what to think. Part of him was happy, though. Maybe he didn't blow the interview after all. |